Gov. Scott Walker will be the keynote speaker at this year's major fundraiser hosted by the campaign committee for House Republicans. / AP

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Post-Crescent Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON — Gov. Scott Walker will be the keynote speaker at this year’s major fundraiser hosted by the campaign committee for House Republicans.

Walker will headline the National Republican Congressional Committee’s annual dinner on March 20 at the National Building Museum. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Janesville, is chairman of this year’s dinner.

Walker, who burst onto the national scene in 2011 when he stripped public employee unions of most of their collective bargaining powers, has become a favorite among conservatives. He also will be a featured speaker for March 14-16 annual Conservative Political Action Conference. It will be his second consecutive appearance before the gathering of conservative political activists.

“Governor Walker is an incredible leader who understands what it takes to get our country back on track because he has done it in Wisconsin,” said Andrea Bozek, an NRCC spokeswoman.

The annual dinner is the NRCC’s top fundraising event to finance its mission to elect Republicans to the House. Last year’s was headlined by South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and drew $12 million.

Although Democrats picked up seats in last November’s election, Republicans still control the House with a 232-200 majority. There are three vacancies.

“Governor Walker is honored to be the keynote speaker at the NRCC dinner to help ensure Republicans maintain their majority in the 2014 midterm elections,” said Walker spokeswoman Nicole Tieman.

The money raised underwrites the NRCC’s campaign activities, including contributions to candidates and independent expenditures on behalf of Republicans or against Democratic candidates.

For example, during the 2012 election cycle, the NRCC gave $5,000 to Rep. Sean Duffy’s campaign and spent more than $1.4 million on ads opposing Duffy challenger Pat Kreitlow, the former state senator, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks campaign spending. The group spent $3,000 on ads in support of Duffy.

In the race between Rep. Reid Ribble, R-Sherwood, and Democratic challenger Jamie Wall from Green Bay, the NRCC spent $6,372 in support of Ribble and $444,841 on ads opposing Wall.

Nationally, the NRCC gave $445,544 to 67 candidates for the 2012 election and spent $156.7 million on independent expenditures.